The Levada Centre conducted a survey over an attitude of Russian citizens to the president

Only 15% of respondents share completely President Vladimir Putin’s views, but a half of pollsters support him, as he remains a president of hopes

Share

1 pages in this article

MOSCOW, June 25 (Itar-Tass) — Only 15% of respondents share completely President Vladimir Putin’s views, but a half of pollsters support him, as he remains a president of hopes, the Vedomosti daily reported in comments on the results of a sociological survey, which the Levada Centre conducted on May 25-29. They asked a question about the feelings of Russian citizens about Putin’s comeback to the post of the president.

The respondents divided in four approximately equal groups. Some 28% of them have absolutely position emotions about Putin’s comeback (the proudness for the country, joy, satisfaction and confidence in the future). About the same number of respondents (27%) are indifferent to this event. Another 24% are feeling a hope. And 21% of pollsters are negative about Putin’s third term of presidency.

Last November, when Putin declared about his decision to come back in the Kremlin, the Levada Centre asked the similar question: what are the feelings of people about this event. Then 32% of respondents had positive emotions (enthusiasm, approving and easiness), though a little more people – 23.5% had negative feelings.

A falling number in the supporters of the president was showed in the answer to the question, whether Russian citizens share Putin’s views and whether they are ready to support him. Some 15% of pollsters share fully his views, while their number was 22% in August 2010 and 16% in August 2011. Some 26% (30% in 2010 and 29% in 2011) are ready to support Putin until he pursues democratic and market reforms. The percentage of people disappointed in Putin reached 17% from 11% in 2010. The same percentage supports him in view of no alternative. Some 14% of pollsters do not support him and seven percent are not quite content with him, but pin some hopes on him.

In general, 43-44% are optimistic about Russia’s future under Putin. They believe that the living level of people will increase in next six years, and the country will get in the top ten most developed countries, as the president pledged it. The pessimists about Russian future make approximately the same percentage (40-41%) with due account of the statistical error.

As compared with 2010 the attitude to Putin worsened, and the number of people sympathizing with Putin and his critics makes about 50% to 30%. Putin still remains a president of hopes, Deputy Director of the Levada Centre Alexei Grazhdankin concluded.